The Present Tree lands £1.8m seed to upgrade supply chain and systems
This article covers The Present Tree, a County Antrim-based B2C startup, which has raised £1.8m in a seed funding round led by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI) and managed by Clarendon Fund Managers to fund senior hires, a new headquarters and operational expansion. The funding will support the startup's scaling across the UK, Ireland and into Europe, strengthening capacity, supply chain and systems and signalling institutional backing for purpose-led consumer brands in Northern Ireland.
The Present Tree, a County Antrim-based B2C startup, has raised £1.8m in a seed funding round led by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI) managed by Clarendon Fund Managers to fund senior hires, a new headquarters and operational expansion as it targets growth across the UK, Ireland and into Europe. It is the business’s first equity funding round since launching in 2013.
Why it matters
The deal signals growing institutional backing for purpose-led consumer brands from Northern Ireland. The cash injection should help The Present Tree move beyond a founder-funded, high-volume fulfilment model to more resilient operations and capacity to meet demand that has already doubled year on year to a multi-million pound turnover. For regional economies, backing from IFNI — a British Business Bank operated fund — is designed to keep equity capital local and support firms scaling employment and exports.
Inside the product
The Present Tree sells premium tree gifts to consumers and corporate customers, emphasising sustainability and personalised presentation. Its offer includes ethically sourced trees, organic tree care products, plastic-free premium packaging and personalised gifting options. The business says it currently exceeds the capacity of 10,000 orders per week and will use the funding to strengthen supply chain and systems to protect product quality as volumes rise.
Who are the investors?
The £1.8m round is led by the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI), with the fund managed by Clarendon Fund Managers. IFNI is operated by the British Business Bank and provides a mix of equity and debt funding to businesses with material operations in Northern Ireland; it can support equity investments up to £5m and debt from £25k to £2m.
Clarendon Fund Managers will provide the day-to-day fund management backing as the business recruits senior hires and develops a new headquarters. The investment is described as a strategically aligned minority equity stake intended to underpin capacity and systems upgrades without changing the company’s sustainability credentials.
In the announcement, Matthew Ward, Investment Manager, Clarendon Fund Managers, said:
The Present Tree has built a premium, purpose-led brand with demonstrable traction, underpinned by disciplined founder-led execution, a strong team, and a clear commitment to sustainable operations.
This £1.8m investment is a step change, providing the capacity to scale the business while maintaining the quality and values that underpins their offering. We are excited to be backing Catherine and the team for the next phase of growth, and we see a clear pathway for the business to become a category-defining sustainable luxury gifting brand.
In the announcement, Mark Sterritt, Senior Director, Nations and Regions Investment Funds, British Business Bank, said:
It’s good to see the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland support The Present Tree at such a pivotal stage of its growth.
It has built a reputation for sustainability, integrity, and exceptional customer satisfaction. Helping businesses like The Present Tree take the next step on their growth journey is exactly why the Fund was launched.
We look forward to seeing what’s next for the team as they continue their expansion.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Catherine Cunningham, Founder, The Present Tree, said:
Growing The Present Tree from an ambitious idea to the thriving business we see today has been an incredible journey. I am so proud of our team who have shown such devotion to the business and always ensure every tree gift we send carries the spark of love and meaning that is at the heart of The Present Tree.
This round focused on bringing in a strategic partner aligned with our long-term ambition and growth plans. It provides the right expertise and capital to scale capacity, systems and the supply chain without compromising quality or sustainability, and establishes a clear platform for expansion across the UK and Ireland and into Europe.
Now, with this funding, we can share that magic with more people and more markets. My love of trees and nature inspired The Present Tree to begin its story and it’s a joy to share that connection with the world while leaving a positive impact on the planet.
Cunningham’s comments underline that the business plans to protect its sustainability credentials while professionalising operations and expanding geographically.
The bigger picture
The transaction reflects a broader trend of public and quasi-public funds stepping in to provide equity to consumer-focused startups outside London. For Northern Ireland the deal illustrates how regional investment programmes aim to convert local traction into exportable business models. For investors, sustainable consumer propositions that combine repeatable fulfilment with premium pricing remain an area of interest as companies look for defensible customer experiences and ethical supply chains.
As The Present Tree scales, its progress will be watched by other UK and European consumer brands seeking to combine purpose and growth while moving from founder-led operations to institutional capital.
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